Lina Cao

Lina Cao is a world-renowned guzheng virtuoso celebrated for her profound contributions to Chinese traditional music and her visionary approach to blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. Spanning continents, Lina has redefined guzheng artistry, breaking cultural boundaries and establishing herself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Chinese music. Beginning her guzheng studies at the age of five, Lina demonstrated exceptional talent from a young age. Lina trained under China’s top masters, including Wang Wei, Ren Jie, Yanai Hua, and Li Meng, and earned degrees from the Nanjing University of the Arts and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Combining tradition with modern expression, Lina’s performances have graced prestigious stages worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, captivating global audiences.

Throughout her career, Lina has collaborated with premier ensembles such as the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra, Atalanta Youth Symphony Orchestra, London Symphonia, Canadian Children‘s Opera Company, Toronto Chinese Orchestra, Canadian Chinese Orchestra, New Music Concerts(Toronto), Canadian Arabic Orchestra, James Madison University Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin Eau-Claire Chamber Orchertra. Lina has worked with renowned conductors like Pang JiaPang, Wang Aikang, Teri Dunn, Kira Omelchenko and Matthew Poon, and she has also worked with renowned composers like He Zhanhao，Alice Ho, Sandeep Bhagwati, and Andrew Stainland, premiering critically acclaimed works that push the boundaries of guzheng performance.

Lina‘s accolades include double gold prizes for solo and ensemble guzheng at the Singapore International Chinese Arts Festival (2008) and China’s highest honors, the ”Golden Bell Award“ (2012) and the ”Wenhua Award“ (2008). Lina also received the ”World Peace International Appreciation Award“ at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Concert and was nominated for ”Outstanding Chamber Performance“ at the 40th Dora Mavor Moore Awards in Canada (2017). Lina’s performances have been broadcast by CBC Music（2020） and Chicago’s WFMT Radio Network（2014）, and in 2024, she received a funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.

As the founder and music director of the Toronto Guzheng Ensemble, Lina has led the group to premiere numerous innovative works at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Isabel Bader Theatre at the University of Toronto. Through performances and recordings, she has elevated guzheng chamber music to new heights. Lina is also a dedicated educator, serving as the first guzheng instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University and frequently lecturing at institutions such as the music faculties of University of Toronto, York University, Upper Canada College, James Madison University, Wisconsin Eau-Claire. Using music as a cultural bridge, Lina continues to infuse new vitality into guzheng artistry, solidifying its place on the global stage.